"only XL-4"

tfp

We negotiated down -400 from blue. Heavy dealing, with no money or army. From the lookout, I saw blue's starting respawn, and he, from a mirrored lookout, saw my respawn. The AI cut off two of my scouts, and once I baited the green orcs with Solmyr (exit from respawn). I built fire elementals in the Fort (without buying units). With heavy losses, I killed the AI Dungeon; it had buildings 1-4 in the Citadel, +1000. With Brissa I took an external dwelling of minotaurs, with Arrow on 110 and Slow. I was playing with four heroes, so when I saved up for the Minotaur Portal, there was no one to ferry them out. Meanwhile, on turn 125, the opponent's scout had already run to the AI's town. A block of 20+ greater basilisks separated us. I took another village and killed the Swamp AI. I scouted two Griffin Conservatories (3-4 and 2-4) and three Dragon Fly Hives, but I had nothing to take them with. On turn 133, the opponent chains my Dungeon, Gunnar buys himself there. The army isn't big: 12 Thunderbirds, 25 greater elves from Pandora's Box, but I can't reach him with Solmyr, who has 40 mana and Chain Lightning at 319. On the next turn, he takes my 2-4 Griffin Conservatory (for 4 angels). After that, there was nothing left to hope for. I could have played better—for example, baited with Solmyr using the whole army, just without the fairies. Not expose the scout, so the AI wouldn't kill Brissa in its own Castle with single units and no mana, since it only had medusas and mana for one Arrow. Not trade resources down to zero constantly; build a Mage Guild, for instance. Start with a Dragon Fly Hive using 15 wizards, instead of 38 golden golems. At my native respawn, by the way. According to the template, such guards should be in the treasure zone. At least I got to play with mages.
Thanks for a game!